Planner 2

Multnomah County • Portland, OR

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Multnomah County Land Use Planning is looking to hire a public service-focused Planner 2 to join the team! An ideal candidate will be adept at solving both routine and unique property/land use problems with creativity and clarity. They will be curious and skilled at helping applicants find solutions within County code and state land use laws. They will meet deadlines and anticipate issues before they arise by working with applicants and partner agencies. They are astute about the roles of stakeholders, leaders, staff, and the community, ensuring that customer service is at the forefront of their work. They will recognize their role as a core member of a small team at the County, contributing to the team’s cohesion, and the navigating changes that will come with the development and adoption of the new Zoning Code with an open mind. They like working in a small shop and functioning as a generalist. The Planner 2 is a mid-level professional position in the planning series here at Multnomah County Land Use Planning. As a Planner 2, you will be responsible for holding pre-file and pre-application meetings, and preparing increasingly complex land use reviews, including cases within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and Type 3 cases that go before the County’s Hearings Officer. You will be expected to manage time effectively, and balance your case work with public service shifts. In this role, the majority of your time will be spent on permit case work and providing direct customer service through in-person, virtual, and phone appointments and at the planning counter. However, depending on Current Planning case loads, there may be opportunities to contribute to the development of the team through process updates, and to support the needs of other programs within the Land Use Planning Division, which also includes Long-Range Planning and Code Compliance.

Requirements

• Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in planning, geography, architecture, landscape architecture, or a related field (equivalent experience may substitute for a degree);
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible professional planning experience;
• Experience with administering the Oregon land use planning program in a rural, preferably County, setting; and
• A valid driver license.

Nice To Haves

• A strong interest in helping applicants through the land use process.
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex issues, verbally and in writing.
• Experience providing excellent customer service to the public.
• Ability to work calmly under pressure, think clearly and quickly, and make sound and reasoned decisions.
• Ability and willingness to navigate change as the County updates the Zoning Code.
• Advanced skills in working cooperatively and harmoniously with staff, peers, superiors, community members and special interest groups to gain cooperation and support.
• An openness to learning, and an interest in identifying how the County can meet the needs of its rural residents.
• Ability to learn and understand the program area subject matter and related laws, regulations, and policies, and understand the local context.
• Interest in the Oregon statewide land use system and potentially have an interest in growing expertise in key regulatory areas.
• Prior public sector experience in planning (municipal or county level), or experience preparing land use approval submittals for applicants in a private sector role, or serving in an “extension of staff role.”
• Masters degree in planning or a related field.
• Project management experience.
• Experience and strong interest in rural planning.

Responsibilities

• Managing Type I, Type II, and Type III (public hearings) land use cases from intake to decision or recommendation. This includes writing staff reports with land use findings and conditions, and presenting at public hearings for Type III decisions.
• The Planner 2 may review all types of decisions, but will be expected to take on more complex land use cases, such as preparing zoning action requests such as variances, lots of exception, Willamette River Greenway reviews, and others.
• Translating complex land use regulations for community members and applicants into easy to understand language.
• Researching land use and permitting history.
• Assisting the public by finding solutions to land use issues in person, over the phone, via email or via video calls.
• Seeking opportunities to identify opportunities to improve processes, procedures, and methods of communication with internal and external partners.
• Working with partner agencies to coordinate reviews, including the Columbia River Gorge Commission.
• Providing staff support to the Planning Commission and Board by preparing staff reports, presenting staff recommendations at hearings, and writing final decisions
• Providing public engagement support at public meetings and events, attending neighborhood meetings as assigned.

Benefits

• employer-funded retirement savings
• health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents
• paid parental leave
• wellness programs
• a focus on work-life balance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level